Richard Randall on Crime

Opposes death penalty because guilt is never unequivocal

Q: Your views on death penalty?

A: Libertarians believe in compensation of the victim, not punishment. However, a murderer might be put to death if that was the compensation that the family wanted most. Because of the finality of this compensation,
guilt would most likely need to be unequivocal. The ability to determine guilt with DNA testing has indicated that a number of innocent people have been executed in the past. Some libertarians point to these mistakes as a reason not to give the State
authority to execute.

The Libertarian Party takes no formal stand on capital punishment and libertarians differ in their attitude towards it. My personal belief is that a libertarian society should outlaw capital "compensation" AT THIS TIME because
of the difficulty in determining unequivocal guilt. If at some time in the future it becomes possible to prove unequivocal guilt, then I may support capital "compensation".

Source: E-mail exchange with OnTheIssues.org
Oct 17, 2004

Mandatory minimums violate sentencing proportional to crime

Q: Your views on Three Strikes laws?

A: Rather than protecting innocent people from violent criminals, the 'Three Strikes' laws have instead resulted in more individuals receiving egregious mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent,
victimless crimes. When someone is being locked up for the rest of their life because they had some marijuana in their possession, something is very wrong.

Libertarians support the concept that law should impose penalties proportional to the gravity of the violation of others' rights. Therefore, I oppose the "Three- Strikes-and-You're-Out" laws
because they fail to focus on the truly violent career criminals who are the greatest threat to their victims.

Source: E-mail exchange with OnTheIssues.org
Oct 17, 2004

Base justice on restitution instead of punishment

The present system of criminal law is based almost solely on punishment with little concern for the victim. The purpose of a justice system is to provide restitution to those suffering a loss at the expense of those who caused that loss.
In the case of violent crimes, an additional purpose is to defend society from the continued threat of violence. I support the following:

restitution for the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or wrongdoer;

an end to the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense;

an affirmation of the right of the victim to pardon the criminal or wrongdoer, barring threats to the victim for this purpose;

ending all "no-fault" insurance laws, which deprive the victim of the right to recover damages from those responsible in the case of injury and;

changing rape laws so that cohabitation will no longer be a defense against a charge of rape.